References:
- HealthLinkBC – Pooping, peeing, and diapering
- Sick Kids-About Kids Health – Breastfeeding: How do you know your baby is getting enough milk?
How do I Know if My Infant is Getting Enough Milk?
- Infant shows desire and wakes up frequently to feed
- During the first month, your infant should wake up 8-12 times to feed in 24 hours (every hour and a half to 3 hours)
- Infant should feed for 15-45 minutes with each feed
- Your infant needs to feed often because their stomach is small
- When your infant is born, their stomach is about the size of a cherry
- By the 3rd day of life, their stomach is about the size of a walnut
- By the 7th day of life, their stomach is about the size of an egg
- Infant sucks and swallows rhythmically
- If your infant has an open-pause-close sucking for most of the feed, they are likely getting enough milk
- Infant has a strong cry, alert periods, and their mouth appears to be wet
- Infant is growing appropriately
- Regular increases in their weight, length, and head circumference
- Regular dirty and wet diapers (explained below)
- If your infant does not have enough wet or dirty diapers, seek help from a healthcare professional immediately
Expected Infant Bowel Movements (Pooping):
Days 1-2 of life | Days 3-4 of life | Day 5 - week 3 of life | Beyond week 3 of life | |
Appearance | -First few stools are meconium -Thick, sticky, and tar like -Often black or dark green in colour | -Transitional stools -Loose consistency -Brown, green, or yellow in colour | Breastfed: -Soft, runny, lumpy, or seed like -Golden-yellow in colour | Breastfed: -Soft, runny, lumpy, or seed like -Golden-yellow in colour |
Formula fed: -Pasty consistency -Pale yellow to light green | Formula fed: -Pasty consistency -Pale yellow to light green | |||
Odour | No smell to a mild odour | No smell to a mild odour | Breastfed: No smell or a mild odour | Breastfed: No smell or a mild odour |
Formula fed: Strong smell | Formula fed: Strong smell | |||
Frequency | Should occur at least once or twice per day | Should occur at least 2 or 3 times per day | Breastfed: Should occur 3 times per day if small or once per day if large | Breastfed: May occur once every few days to once per week |
Formula fed: Should occur once or twice per day | Formula fed: May occur every day or two |
Expected Infant Urination (Peeing):
- Diapers should get heavier with urine each day
Days 1-3 of life | Days 4-6 of life | Beyond Day 7 of life | |
Colour | Pale yellow, may have a pink or rusty-orange stain | Pale yellow | Pale yellow |
Frequency | Day 1: at least 1 wet diaper per day Day 2: at least 2 wet diapers per day Day 3: at least 3 wet diapers per day | Day 4: at least 4 wet diapers per day Days 5-6: at least 5 wet diapers per day | Should be at least 6 wet diapers per day |
Further Your Learning:
- MyHealth.Alberta.ca – Signs that your baby is getting enough breastmilk
- Sick Kids-About Kids Heath – Breastfeeding: How do you know your baby is getting enough milk?
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